Lamb rest



l Umted States Patent I1113,548,787

[72] Inventor Wayne W- Wilson FOREIGN PATENTS g- Powers l8,4 59 7/1935 Australia 119/103 31 1 NO' 211112 25 1969 Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medberry [45] Patented Dem 22:1970 Attomey-Alexander & Dowell ABSTRACT: The lamb rest includes a base board on which an inclined V-shaped trough extends upwardly and rearwardly from one end over the board to receive therein a lamb in an [54] LAMB REST 6 Claims 4 Drawing Figs. inclined position with its back resting in the trough and with its feet uppermost. The apex of the lower end of the trough enm 1 19/103 gages the base board at a point inset from said one end to form 1 Cl A61! 03/00 a seat at the bottom of the trough for the body of the lamb. An [50] Field of Search 119/96, 103 inverted U shaped lamb holding frame having the lower ends of its legs out-tumed and journaled in the sides of the trough is [56] Rekmm cited provided so that the legs of the frame will clamp the sides of UNITED STATES PATENTS the body of the lamb, the legs being disposed between said 1,451,826 4/1923 Hobbs 119/103 lambs body and the front and rear legs respectively. Means 1,788,924 1/1931 Marrinan et a1. 119/103 are also provided at the top of the trough for maintaining the $969366 11/1960 Morison 119/103 holding frame in clamping position.

LAMB REST DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention is a novel lamb rest adapted to securely hold a lamb or other animal therein in such position as to facilitate docking, castrating, marking, trimming, or vaccinating a lamb, whereby one man can place the lamb in the lamb rest and complete the entire operation unassisted.

In sections of the country where the sheep industry is prevalent it is necessary in the spring of the year to dock and mark lambs, this work normally requiring two men to capture the lamb and hold it while it is castrated, and then earmarked if the case requires same. By my invention, however, I have provided a lamb rest which requires the work of only one man to clamp the lamb in the device, thereby saving considerable labor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a lamb rest which comprises a V-shaped trough secured in an inclined position upon a base board adapted to receive therein a lamb with legs upturned and with its back resting in the V-shaped trough, the lamb seating upon the base. A U-shaped holding frame is pivoted on the trough, the legs of the frame extending along the sides of the lamb between the body and the front and hindlegs of the lamb, thereby cinching the lamb down in the V-shaped trough. The holding frame is pivoted at its lower end to the trough and is adjustably maintained in clamping position at its upper end by engagement with a ratchet bar pivoted to the top of the trough so that the lamb thus held in the V- shaped trough can be operated upon quickly requiring only the work of one man.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of my novel lamb rest showing a lamb clamped therein in position for operation thereon.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the lamb rest on the line 2-2, FIG. 1, showing in full lines the holding frame in engagement with the ratchet bar, and showing in dot-and-dash lines the holding frame and ratchet bar in disengaged positions.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the upper end of the lamb rest taken on the line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4, FIG. 1.

The lamb rest comprises a base board 1 of wood, aluminum, or other desired material, same being of greater width then the body of the lamb or other animal, the same having at one end an arcuate recess la. From the recessed end of the board 1 extends an upwardly and rearwardly inclined V-shaped trough 2 of wood, aluminum, or other desired material, same being disposed axially on the board 1, the apex 2a of the V-shaped trough at the point where same meets the board 1 being inset from the recess la to form a seat at the bottom of the trough 2 upon which the upturned lamb may rest when placed in the trough. The sides of the trough 2 are connected to the board 1 in any desired manner such as by screws or the like. As shown in FIG. 2 the sides of the trough 2 extend beyond the recessed end In of the board and terminate in the plane of the board 1, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The board 1 is adapted to be secured to a support S by means of bolts, screws or clamps 3 to maintain the lamb rest in upright position.

Extending upwardly beyond and in alignment with the apex 2a of the V-shaped trough 2 is an angle bar 4 which is preferably secured to the trough members 2 by means of bolts 5, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the flanges of the angle iron 4 being bent or brought into parallel relation as at 4a, FIG. 3, to receive therebetween the lower end of a ratchet bar 6 which is pivoted to the portions 4a by means of a bolt 7 so that the ratchet bar 6 may swing in the manner shown in FIG.

2. The ratchet bar 6 is provided on its lower face with a series of ratchet teeth 6a for the purpose hereinafter described, and the ratchet bar may have at its outer end an eye 6b if desired.

On the lower end of the V-shaped trough 2, at each side thereof, are plates 8, FIGS. 2 and 4, whichare secured to the trough members 2 by means of bolts 9, the same projecting below the lower end of the trough member 2. The plates 8 are provided with a pair of spaced holes 8a therein, as shown in FIG. 2, adapted to receive the out-turned ends 10a of a holding frame 10, which ends 100 extend through the holes and are secured therein by cotter pins 11, FIG. 4. On the outtumed ends of the holding frame 10 are sleeves 12 for the purpose of centering the holding frame 10 on the trough member 2 while permitting the frame to swing vertically in the manner indicated in FIG. 2.

AS shown, the frame member 10 is formed of a rod bent into general inverted U-shape, and the upper end thereof is adapted to engage one of the ratchet teeth 6a of the ratchet bar 6 when the lamb is held in the V-shaped trough 2, in the manner shown in FIG. 1, the spacing between the legs of the member 10 adjacent the upper end of the frame 10 being less than at the lower end so as to receive therebetween the muzzle or head of the lamb as shown in FIG.; 1 to maintain same against movement.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the lamb is to be held in the lamb rest the back of the lamb is placed in the V-shaped trough 2, the lamb seating upon the outer end of the base board 1 which forms a seat, and the holding frame It) is then swung so that the legs of the frame 10 extend parallel with the body of the lamb between the body and the front and rear legs thereof. When the lamb is thus crimped or clamped in the trough 2 the ratchet bar is swing down to engage one of the teeth 6a with the upper end of the holding frame 10, as shown in FIG. 1, and the lamb is then ready for operation thereon.

I claim:

l. A lamb rest comprising a base board; an inclined V- shaped trough extending upwardly and rearwardly from one end over the board adapted to receive therein a lamb in an inclined position with its back resting in the trough and with its feet uppermost; the apex of the lower end of the trough engaging the board at a point inset from said one end whereby the board will form a seat at the bottom of the trough for the lamb; an inverted U-shaped lamb-holding frame having the lower ends of its legs out-turned and journale d in the sides of the trough, the legs of said frame being spaced to clamp the sides of the body of the lamb and being disposed between said body and the front and rear legs of the lamb respectively; and means at the top of the trough for maintaining the holding frame in clamping position.

2. In a lamb rest as set forth in claim 1, the sides of the lower end of the trough extending beyond the said one end of the board and having series of spaced holes therein receiving the out-turned ends of the legs of the frame; and frame centering sleeves on said out-turned ends between the respective legs of the holding frame and the said sides of the trough respectively.

3. In a lamb rest as set forth in claim 1, said maintaining means comprising an angle iron secured to and extending beyond the top of the trough and having at its upper end spaced parallel portions carrying a pivot bolt; and a ratchet bar pivoted at its lower end on said bolt, said bar having on its underside a series of ratchet teeth adapted to engage the top of the holding frame.

4. A lamb rest comprising a base board having an arcuate recess at one end; an inclined V-shaped trough extending upwardly and rearwardly from the recessed end and over the board adapted to receive therein a lamb in an inclined position with its back resting in the trough and with its feet uppermost; the apex of the lower end of the trough engaging the board at a point inset from said recess whereby the board will form a seat at the bottom of the trough for the lamb; an inverted U-shaped lamb-holding frame having the lower ends of its legs outturned and journaled in the sides of the trough, the legs of said frame being spaced to clamp the sides of the body of the lamb and being disposed between said body and the front and rear legs of the lamb respectively; and means at the top of the trough for maintaining the holding frame in clamping position.

5. In a lamb rest as set forth in claim 4, the sides of the lower endof the trough extending beyond the recessed end of the base, and terminating in the plane of the base; plates secured to the lower ends of the sides of the trough beyond the base and having series of spaced holes therein receiving the outturned ends of the legs of the holding frame; and frame centering sleeves on said out-turned ends between the respective 

